Road Trip to Wellington

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#1452162 17-Dec-2015 10:36

sonyxperiageek:
frankv: Without knowing vhat you're interested in, it's hard to advise.

Google Maps tends to be generous with travel time... 8 hours total is probably about right for Auck-Wgtn.

Aim to get petrol at Tokoroa BP... cheapest on SH1, I believe.

Butter Factory cafe at Waharoa on SH27 is nice.

Stop at Huka Falls for a short walk to the falls, or a jet boat ride. Picnic lunch at one of the rest areas along Lake Taupo if the weather is sunny. Taihape has a couple of decent cafes.

In Wellington, drive round the coast Island Bay to Evans Bay, stopping at Moa Point for some aircraft to land. Te Papa. Dowse Art Gallery in Lower Hutt. Paekakariki Hill lookout. Eastbourne is a nice outing on the ferry. Paekakariki Hill lookout. Southwards Car Museum at Paraparaumu. I'm told that the Roxy cinema in Miramar is a must-see. Parliament Buildings. A movie at the Embassy Cinema.

I think that's a bit early in the trip to get petrol. The car should be able to last one way there on a tank of fuel, but will keep your suggestion in mind.

If you have long range tanks you could make it however given the time of year and delays especially between Otaki to to Wellington you should top up at say Bulls.

sonyxperiageek

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#1452163 17-Dec-2015 10:36

Dingbatt: I will be interested to hear how long the drive out of Auckland on the 24th takes. Depending on time of day, expect tailbacks at the Bombays, Ohinewai and Huntly to say the least. I actually think, due to the traffic, the Google estimate may be light. Get away early enough though and you may get ahead of the worst of it.
In Wellington itself, having been in the central city on Christmas Day a couple of times, you may struggle to find somewhere casual to eat, and most things are closed. Personally I would plan to do things that involve seeing public sights that day.
I guess it's also important to enjoy the journey as well since it is so long, at least you have a decent car.

I'll be on Twitter to complain about the traffic if any!

Yes, I was thinking of public sight seeing on 25th as most places are closed. Then on the 26th we may get a bit of a show as to how the Wellington boxing day sales go! If there are some good sales, thank goodness the Mazda 6 has a huugge boot!

Sony

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#1452166 17-Dec-2015 10:40

MikeB4:
sonyxperiageek:
frankv: Without knowing vhat you're interested in, it's hard to advise.

Google Maps tends to be generous with travel time... 8 hours total is probably about right for Auck-Wgtn.

Aim to get petrol at Tokoroa BP... cheapest on SH1, I believe.

Butter Factory cafe at Waharoa on SH27 is nice.

Stop at Huka Falls for a short walk to the falls, or a jet boat ride. Picnic lunch at one of the rest areas along Lake Taupo if the weather is sunny. Taihape has a couple of decent cafes.

In Wellington, drive round the coast Island Bay to Evans Bay, stopping at Moa Point for some aircraft to land. Te Papa. Dowse Art Gallery in Lower Hutt. Paekakariki Hill lookout. Eastbourne is a nice outing on the ferry. Paekakariki Hill lookout. Southwards Car Museum at Paraparaumu. I'm told that the Roxy cinema in Miramar is a must-see. Parliament Buildings. A movie at the Embassy Cinema.

I think that's a bit early in the trip to get petrol. The car should be able to last one way there on a tank of fuel, but will keep your suggestion in mind.

If you have long range tanks you could make it however given the time of year and delays especially between Otaki to to Wellington you should top up at say Bulls.

Fair call about traffic.

Sony

sonyxperiageek

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#1452167 17-Dec-2015 10:43

Will be making a list of cafes to go to from the suggestions provided by you guys, and making sure we go to most of them along the way!

Sony

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#1452171 17-Dec-2015 10:44

Novotel is my most used hotel - at least until they finally finish the Sofitel which seems to be 12 months overdue at least...

WyleECoyoteNZ

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#1452177 17-Dec-2015 10:52

sonyxperiageek:
Dingbatt: I will be interested to hear how long the drive out of Auckland on the 24th takes. Depending on time of day, expect tailbacks at the Bombays, Ohinewai and Huntly to say the least. I actually think, due to the traffic, the Google estimate may be light. Get away early enough though and you may get ahead of the worst of it.
In Wellington itself, having been in the central city on Christmas Day a couple of times, you may struggle to find somewhere casual to eat, and most things are closed. Personally I would plan to do things that involve seeing public sights that day.
I guess it's also important to enjoy the journey as well since it is so long, at least you have a decent car.

I'll be on Twitter to complain about the traffic if any!

Yes, I was thinking of public sight seeing on 25th as most places are closed. Then on the 26th we may get a bit of a show as to how the Wellington boxing day sales go! If there are some good sales, thank goodness the Mazda 6 has a huugge boot!

Kirks may still be open then, but it could be very slim pickings there.

antoniosk

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#1452178 17-Dec-2015 10:54

Its not clear what days you're in welly, only the days you're coming down. A lot of places will be closed - dixon street is going through a renaissance and theres some nice eateries and cafes in the lane up to ghuznee st, not sure if they will be open though.

Be prepared for naff weather, it usually turns gorgeous from the 4th of jan onwards

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Geektastic

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#1452180 17-Dec-2015 10:55

Drive over the hill to Martinborough. Visit the vineyards and cafes (probably not on 25th though!).

sonyxperiageek

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#1452182 17-Dec-2015 10:57

Was just looking at the hotel prices and as to be expected, were a bit high up there in price because of the holidays. Mercure Wellington had two nights for $198.

Thinking of driving down there on the 24th (say 8am start?) and coming back on the 26th.

Sony

Scotdownunder

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#1452183 17-Dec-2015 10:57

On my last trip to New Plymouth, Levin was by far the cheapest for petrol. Filling up there should see you through all Wellington trips and then refill on way North.

For a road less traveled, try the route on the west side of lake Taupo.

Save driving

sonyxperiageek

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#1452186 17-Dec-2015 11:01

Was thinking again: If we were to try most of the cafes suggested here as said in one of my previous posts, 24th - 26th days would be bad as most cafes would be presumably closed. Will have to see if the others can get alternative days off work on either side of suggested dates.

Sony

sonyxperiageek

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#1452188 17-Dec-2015 11:02

Scotdownunder: On my last trip to New Plymouth, Levin was by far the cheapest for petrol. Filling up there should see you through all Wellington trips and then refill on way North.

For a road less traveled, try the route on the west side of lake Taupo.

Save driving

Filling up at Levin sounds like a logical place. If it does happen to be the cheapest there (mind you diesel is already cheap enough!) then I guess it will be a win-win!

By the way, is it BP there?

Sony

jonathan18

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#1452204 17-Dec-2015 11:18

sonyxperiageek:
MikeB4:
sonyxperiageek:
frankv: Without knowing vhat you're interested in, it's hard to advise.

Google Maps tends to be generous with travel time... 8 hours total is probably about right for Auck-Wgtn.

Aim to get petrol at Tokoroa BP... cheapest on SH1, I believe.

Butter Factory cafe at Waharoa on SH27 is nice.

Stop at Huka Falls for a short walk to the falls, or a jet boat ride. Picnic lunch at one of the rest areas along Lake Taupo if the weather is sunny. Taihape has a couple of decent cafes.

In Wellington, drive round the coast Island Bay to Evans Bay, stopping at Moa Point for some aircraft to land. Te Papa. Dowse Art Gallery in Lower Hutt. Paekakariki Hill lookout. Eastbourne is a nice outing on the ferry. Paekakariki Hill lookout. Southwards Car Museum at Paraparaumu. I'm told that the Roxy cinema in Miramar is a must-see. Parliament Buildings. A movie at the Embassy Cinema.

I think that's a bit early in the trip to get petrol. The car should be able to last one way there on a tank of fuel, but will keep your suggestion in mind.

If you have long range tanks you could make it however given the time of year and delays especially between Otaki to to Wellington you should top up at say Bulls.

Fair call about traffic.

I have the wagon version of this car, and would suggest that you should get between 800 and 900km off a single tank in terms of primarily open-road driving (noting this is a diesel, going by the link in the original post), so I'd be surprised if you need to fill up before you get to Wgtn, busy traffic or not. These cars also have other fuel-saving technology, notably iStop (which I like, unlike many others!) and iELOOP (capacitor to store 'wasted' energy, used to power electrics).

I've not driven the spruced up version of the 6 (mine's a 2013), but it seems like they've sorted out a few of the bugbears with mine, eg a much better interface. Looks like you've got the Limited (going by the size of those rims), which mine also is, so that gives you adaptive cruise which is fantastic for such long drives.

sonyxperiageek

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#1452213 17-Dec-2015 11:26

jonathan18:
sonyxperiageek:
MikeB4:
sonyxperiageek:
frankv: Without knowing vhat you're interested in, it's hard to advise.

Google Maps tends to be generous with travel time... 8 hours total is probably about right for Auck-Wgtn.

Aim to get petrol at Tokoroa BP... cheapest on SH1, I believe.

Butter Factory cafe at Waharoa on SH27 is nice.

Stop at Huka Falls for a short walk to the falls, or a jet boat ride. Picnic lunch at one of the rest areas along Lake Taupo if the weather is sunny. Taihape has a couple of decent cafes.

In Wellington, drive round the coast Island Bay to Evans Bay, stopping at Moa Point for some aircraft to land. Te Papa. Dowse Art Gallery in Lower Hutt. Paekakariki Hill lookout. Eastbourne is a nice outing on the ferry. Paekakariki Hill lookout. Southwards Car Museum at Paraparaumu. I'm told that the Roxy cinema in Miramar is a must-see. Parliament Buildings. A movie at the Embassy Cinema.

I think that's a bit early in the trip to get petrol. The car should be able to last one way there on a tank of fuel, but will keep your suggestion in mind.

If you have long range tanks you could make it however given the time of year and delays especially between Otaki to to Wellington you should top up at say Bulls.

Fair call about traffic.

I have the wagon version of this car, and would suggest that you should get between 800 and 900km off a single tank in terms of primarily open-road driving (noting this is a diesel, going by the link in the original post), so I'd be surprised if you need to fill up before you get to Wgtn, busy traffic or not. These cars also have other fuel-saving technology, notably iStop (which I like, unlike many others!) and iELOOP (capacitor to store 'wasted' energy, used to power electrics).

I've not driven the spruced up version of the 6 (mine's a 2013), but it seems like they've sorted out a few of the bugbears with mine, eg a much better interface. Looks like you've got the Limited (going by the size of those rims), which mine also is, so that gives you adaptive cruise which is fantastic for such long drives.

Yep, I've got the 2015 Mazda 6 2.2L Diesel Limited Edition. It's my first time using start-stop technology and so far it's great. Starts up immediately after lifting foot off the brake. And the Infotainment system is also pretty good. No noticeable lag when moving around options etc.. and yes, looking forward to using radar cruise control on a long trip! Coupled with music on a Bose sound system? This is gonna be a good road trip, hopefully!

Sony

MikeB4

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#1452215 17-Dec-2015 11:30

Geektastic: Drive over the hill to Martinborough. Visit the vineyards and cafes (probably not on 25th though!).

Second that.

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